Monitoring sea ice flux through Fram Strait

A methodology for estimating daily ice velocity through Fram Strait is presented. Ice velocity fields are estimated from a combination of motions observed by SAR (Synthetic Aperture Radar) or buoys and drift estimated by a simple wind drift model. The analysis includes ice motion vectors from approximately 300 pairs of ERS-1 images, Feb. - Jun. 1993. ESA UILR8 low resolution images derived from the Fast Delivery (FD) products are analyzed to produce ice velocity vectors using a semi-automated interactive approach. This method reveals substantial variability in the ice motion field that would not be apparent from a single data source.